Asthma Symptoms in Children From Air Pollution
Greenhouse Gas & Diseases of the Respiratory System Link
Oct 2, 2009
Responding to public concern “about possible health disorders related to odorous emissions” coming from an industrial park,including asthma symptoms in children, the Israel Ministry of Health ordered, in 2002, a medical study. The purpose of the study was to determine if respiratory system diseases, upper respiratory infection, and asthma in children were related to the Negev industrial facility emissions.
The study focused on previous ecological studies, and a new study began in 2002 at 7 localities up to 20 km from the industrial park. The medical study was conducted by the School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
Results of the study were published in an PubMed web site article dated July-September 2009. The title of the article is “Life Prevalence of Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases and Asthma Among Children Residing in Rural Area Near a Regional Industrial Park: Cross-Sectional Study.”
Air Pollution Statistics From Industrial Air Pollution
The School of Public Health study used a proximity approach to the Negev industrial park. The study factors included:
- A locality distance 20km or less from the facility.
- Dominant wind direction.
- Odor complaints, “yes or no.”
- Consideration of distance from each of the 7 localities.
- Asthma in children in the 0-14 age group.
- Parent questionnaire for 550 children.
- Local clinic medical records.
The child questionnaire provided the study team with information about:
- Demographics.
- Child’s birth history including breast feeding.
- Child’s family respiratory health statistics.
- Environmental factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke or dangerous chemicals.
Diseases of the Respiratory System Results
The School of Public Health medical study results showed that increased “life prevalence” of upper respiratory tract chronic diseases and asthma symptoms increased in “proximal localities” when associated with odor complaints. The closer proximal distance to the emissions showed increasing respiratory diseases and asthma.
The medical study concluded that there was an increase “...of chronic respiratory morbidity among children” associated with the industrial emissions. The study recommended “...a need for environmental protection measures, and monitoring of air pollution.”
New EPA Clean Air Act Rule for Types of Air Pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, announced on September 30, 2009, a stricter greenhouse gas emissions proposal will apply to large industries who emit 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases or more a year.
They will be required to obtain “operating permits” covering certain emissions, according to an EPA article titled “New EPA Rule Will Require Use of Best Technologies to Reduce Greenhouse Gases From Large Facilities/Small Businesses and Farms Exempt.” The (author unknown) article, dated 9/30/2009, is published on the EPA web site. The proposed emissions that will apply are:
- Carbon Dioxide.
- Methane.
- Nitrous Oxide.
- Hydrofluorocarbons.
- Perfluorocarbons.
- Sulfur Hexafluoride.
The School of Public Health study illustrates the medical dangers of certain industry emissions to child health. The study recommends better regulations and monitoring of emissions. The EPA article proposes to require large industrial facilities to obtain “operating permits” when emitting into the air 25,000 tons or more of certain greenhouse gasses a year.
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